FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN FIVE YEARS TO KIDZ FIRST CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND SOUTH AUCKLAND HEALTH INITIATIVES
As well as being a founding and longstanding supporter of Kidz First Children’s Hospital, The Lion Foundation has supported other key health projects in the region, including making a major donation of $421,000 towards a digital mammography machine to assist with the early detection of breast cancers in Counties Manukau women.
From left: Mike Smith, Chairman of The Lion Foundation, Dale D’Rose, Sally Urry, Radiologist and Medical Director of BreastScreen Counties Manukau, Jude Dobson, Ambassador for NZBCF and Heather Shotter, Executive Trustee for NZBCF in front of the new digital mammography machine.
Fundraising for both projects is managed by the South Auckland Health Foundation, a charitable trust that supports and raises funds for Kidz First Children’s Hospital and the health services of Counties Manukau District Health Board.
The new equipment cost almost $735,000 and Radiologist and Medical Director from BreastScreen Counties Manukau, Sally Urry, is thrilled to have the new full field digital mammography machine.
“The new equipment gives us the ability to image more women, more efficiently and in some cases with more accurate results,” she says. “With 13% of all breast cancers diagnosed in New Zealand coming from the Counties Manukau area it is imperative that we have the best available equipment.”
With rapid population growth, Counties Manukau DHB has one of the busiest breast clinics in the country, and last year diagnosed 300 new breast cancer cases.
Pam Tregonning of South Auckland Health Foundation says hundreds of people in the region have been helped through The Lion Foundation’s funding of Kidz First Children’s Hospital and the breast screening services.
“We would like to thank and acknowledge The Lion Foundation for considering The South Auckland Health Foundation and our community such a worthy cause.
“This is on behalf of the many babies and children whose experiences at Kidz First Children’s Hospital were enhanced as a result of funding; the many Counties Manukau women who were able to attend their mammography appointment in the Breast Screening Mobile Van, funded by The Lion Foundation and on behalf of the women who will now experience a quicker and more comfortable mammography thanks to our new digital mammography machine,” says Ms Tregonning.
